Port Douglas’ Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival is among 39 regional Queensland events to share $1.5 million in funding from the latest round of Tourism and Events Queensland’s Regional Development Program.

The Marathon, to be held on November 3 this year, received $20,000, with Far North Queensland also represented by three Cairns events in the 39.

Event organiser Bruno Bennett said, “this funding is a massive boost for our 2013 CANEGROWERS Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival.”

“We have been working for four years now to establish the Marathon as a major event for the region and the support of the State Government through the Tourism and Events Queensland Regional Events Program puts both Port Douglas and the Marathon Festival on the map.

“We have already exceeded our expectations at this early stage with almost 100 entries prior to June. The fact that many of those registrations are from overseas competitors who will combine their running passion with a holiday in Port is just fantastic,” he said.

"To receive funding of this nature by Tourism Queensland and Events is a significant show of confidence for our area," said Sam Cullen, Managing Director of Newsport Publishing and tourismportdouglas.com.

"We aim to make the race an iconic event for Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef."

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said the latest round of funding was allocated to event organisers based on the event plans they submitted.

“The funding can be used for marketing activities to increase awareness of the event and destination through strategic planning, engagement of short-term personnel and hire of temporary infrastructure,” she said.

The RDP forms part of the state Government’s plan to double annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020. So far, the program has invested more than $22 million across 1015 events since 2001.

The GBRMF has been dubbed "The World's Best" by four time Australian Olympian and respected athlete Steve Moneghetti. The 50 year-old long distance runner is a regular competitor and Official Event Ambassador, and has helped drive a national interest in marathons and fun runs.

The event showcases the Far North region, with Port Douglas hosting international and national visitors and locals competing in a 42km Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km and 5km charity run.

As well, an estimated 100 runners will compete in the 74km Ultramarathon course. With a nine hour cut-off time, the course starts at James Cook University in Cairns, travelling through Kuranda and Mowbray National Park within the World Heritage Wet Tropics, and up Four Mile Beach to the Port Douglas township and Macrossan Street.